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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Courtene, -tein, n. Also: courten, -tean, -teen; cowrteyn, courteine. [Variant of Courtin(e.]

1. A curtain. 1533 Treas. Acc. VI. 182.
Deliverit … to be ane pair of courtenis to the Kingis bed, xxviij elnis dammas Ib.
For rubannis to be latchatis to the samyn courtennis 1561 Inv. Wardrobe 135.
Ane bed … with thre courtenis of taffetie Ib. 136; etc.
Ane bed … with thre plane courtenis 1585 James VI Ess. 70.
O thow, whose charge and call Made Heauens like courtenis for to spread abreid 1610 Hist. Kinloss A. p. xi.
Ane stand of grene damask courtenes, contening the ruf, the taister, and sax peces of courtenes 1635 Haddington Mem. II. 302.
Ane stand of blew sky courtenes of fyue peices, Ane stand of blew sey courtenes 1648 Linlithgow Pal. 331.
Ane pair grein courteans 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII. 300.
Ane hung bed … containing vtter and inner valange with four peece of courteens(b) 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 540.
Ane pair of awld greyne cowrteynis of sey 1596 Wemyss of Bogie MSS.
Thrie courteins with thair pendicles 1615 Haddington Mem. II. 289.
Ane stand of reid steming courteines … with ane bak courteine 1661 Buccleuch Mun. II. 313.
Ane sute of blue damas courteins, consisting of three peice of courteins [etc.] 1664 Inventory 4 in Decreets Dal. XI.
Tuo stand of red courteins

b. Attrib. with bed, lace, pand, plaiding. 1631 Edinb. Test. LV. 157 b.
Ane courtein bed pryce xx li. 1637 Ann. Banff I. 80.
The pryce of wyving of ilk elne of courtein plaiding 4 d. 1647 Edinb. Test. LXIII. 50.
Threttie elnes of courtene laice 1648 Ib. 322.
Ane courtene pand and twa old coverings 1654 Ib. LXVIII. 7 b.
Ane courtein bed of wainscot

2. A curtain in fortification. 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 70.
To cast doun and dimolishe the southe pairt … , making the blokhous and courtene equall with the ground